Olympus have launched what would appear to be an excellent camera for those looking for a little more than a compact but not quite ready to take the plunge into the DSLR money pit, the catchy named SP-550 UZ. with 18x optical zoom, that gives you the equivalent to 35mm lens range of 28-504mm and comes with true image stabilisation and a modest 7MP. you can find out more here.

That looks like a great find .. even does things in the "raw"

Phil your actualy recomending an Olympus Camera. You must be getting soft in your own age. You always said you would never own one and have gone back and forth on the cameras. LOL

i didnt say I was buying one - just that others might want to consider it :-)

think of it as a pre-emptive strike against the next 15 'I'm thinking of buying a new camera....' threads

good luck with that ;-)

........Cost: approx. $500 USD ;=)

I want one! I wish my camera had ISO 50. Does it have a bulb mode? =P

But, of course, Nikon is still the best

Nikon may make some of the best cameras, but they're not without their Achilles heels...
after all, Chevrolet makes the Corvette...they also make the Aveo...which ought to be named the Avoidit

"Achilles heels" --> had to look that one up. --> :)

*smacks noah upside the head*...and pass one on to your teacher too...;-)

Nikon's Achilles heel is their propensity for using Sony sensors that have more noise on them than a van halen concert. but enough of all that before it turns into a canon vs. nikon squabble. again.

i neatly avoided it. i bought an olympus *grin*

indeed you did and seeing as the 550 is peerless in its functionality the 'who’s best' argument is redundant :-)